Skulduggery Pleasant_ Death Bringer - Derek Landy [94]
He laughed horribly. “Not important to you, Val, but it’s plenty important to me. Do you even care? I mean, I know you’re crying, I can see the tears, but they’re not tears for me. You’re crying because you feel bad. Those tears are about you, because everything is about you. It always is, isn’t it? The world revolves around you, because you’re just that selfish.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t think it even occurred to you that I would be hurt. It never even entered your head. You’re obsessed with yourself, you know that? You always have been, but I’ve been OK with it, because I was obsessed with you too. How stupid am I, huh? Boom, just like that, I’m cut off and now I can see the whole thing. You’ve never done anything for anyone else. You’ve never inconvenienced yourself purely for someone else’s benefit. The rest of us have. It’s what makes us good people. You? You’ve saved the world, but you’re not a good person. I don’t know what you are.”
“Fletch, please—”
“Please what? Please stop making you feel bad? Oh, wow, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realise I was ruining your day. Maybe you should run back to Caelan… maybe he can comfort you.”
Valkyrie shook her head. “It’s not like that.”
“Oh, so you’re not dumping me for him?”
“I’m not dumping you for anyone.”
“Does he know this?”
“I couldn’t care less what he knows.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“Listen, you can stand there and insult me all you want, but the fact is, this has been coming for a while.”
“And yet it’s the first I’ve heard about it.”
“Of course it is, because you haven’t wanted to hear about it.”
“Ah, right. OK. I get it now. Basically, I should have seen this coming, yeah? I should have seen the signs, and realised what was about to happen?”
“Yes,” she said.
“So in a way, when you think about it, all this is my fault.” Valkyrie looked away and sighed.
“Which makes perfect sense,” he continued. “Because you can do nothing wrong. Because you can never be selfish or self-centred because the fault always has to lie with someone else. I am really stupid, Valkyrie, and I apologise.”
“Don’t be like this.”
“Don’t be like what?”
“Don’t be so bloody childish. Don’t sulk. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Your girlfriend broke up with you. Fine. It happens all the time. Grow up and move on.”
“Like you, you mean. Because you’re so mature, taking everything in your stride, accepting any and all responsibility that comes your way. That’s you, isn’t it? Little Miss Perfect?”
“I never said I was perfect.”
“But my God, do you think it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“But why wouldn’t you think you’re perfect? Haven’t I spent the last two years telling you how beautiful you are, how smart, how exceptional? Hasn’t Skulduggery been telling you how great you are, and powerful, and amazing? Everyone you meet is instantly impressed with you, because you’re so confident and capable. You can do anything you put your mind to. You go from schoolgirl to sorcerer overnight. You’re descended from the Last of the Ancients. The Necromancers meet you and you’re immediately one of the nominees to be their impossibly powerful saviour. With all these people going crazy over you, Val, I’m actually surprised you stuck with a nobody like me for so long.”
“Right now,” she said angrily, “I’d have to agree with you.”
There were tears in Fletcher’s eyes, but he didn’t cry. “Well? If you’re expecting me to teleport away, you can forget about it. You’re the one doing the dumping, so it’s up to you to walk out first. So go on, Val. Walk.”
There was a silence, and in that silence she thought of all the other things she wanted to say. Instead she nodded, turned, placed one foot in front of the other, and all too soon she was at the door. But she had to say something. She couldn’t let it end like this, in anger, with his eyes drilling holes in her back. She turned again.
“I still care for you,” she said.
“Wouldn’t worry about it,” he replied, back to acting cool, “it won’t last long. You look at Skulduggery and that’s who you model yourself on. He’s brave, you’re brave.